Spermicidal compositions



Patented Dec. 30, 1952 SPERMICIDAL COMPOSITIONS Abraham Taub, New York, N. Y., assignor to Julius Schmid, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York No Drawing. Application November 21, 1950,

Serial No. 196,961 12 Claims. (01. Ishss) The present invention relates to an improved spermicidal composition. This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 609,323, filed August 6, 1945, now abandoned, for spermicidal Composition.

It is well known that heretofore various spermicidal compositions have been used. Of the various types heretofore used, the diaphragm and jelly method appear to have been the most acceptable and the most desirable. Certain disadvantages have been encountered, however, the most serious of which was the long time required to destroy the sperm, the lack of efficacy due to shortcomings of the jelly, the irritation of the delicate vaginal mucosa, and other undesirable features. Many attempts have been made to overcome these disadvantages, but none, so far as I am aware,- has been wholly successful and satisfactory in actual practice. v

I have now discovered a'solution of the problem confronting the art by which the disadvantages heretofore encountered are overcome by the use of an improved spermicidal composition involving. a unique combination of substances which constitutes a radical departure from the teachings of the prior art. As those skilled in the art are aware, the prior art taught that a spermicidal composition could be made by adding to a semisolid base an agent selected from the group consisting of acids, alkalies, oxidizing agents, or other classes of chemical derivatives having germicidal, coagulating, or membrane-penetrating properties. It is now known that the very properties of these prior art compositions which tended to destroy the sperm inherently tended also to detrimentally affect and irritate the delicate vaginal mucosa.

It has heretofore been generally considered that a spermicidal composition having a pH higher than 7.0 produces a tendency to irritate body tissues and creates an environment which makes undesirable infections possible. I have discovered, however, that an improved spermicidal composition containing fatty acid monoesters of a poly-oxyethylene glycol and having a pH higher than 7.0, preferably from 7.1 to 10.0, may be advantageously used without causing irritation of delicate body membranes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel spermicidal composition containing a monoester in the alkaline range which is adapted to effectively destroy the sperm within relatively short perioidsof time without irritating the delicate-vaginal mucosa or having other detrimental effects.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel spermicidal composition which has an alkaline reaction and which has adequate consistencyfor mechanical barrier action, together with effec-..-.

tive adhesiveness, good spreading power and miscibility with the vaginal and sperm secretions within the alkaline range.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel alkaline spermicidal composition which is easily applied and which is esthetically acceptable to the user with respect to color, odor and general appearance.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of a novel spermicidal composition having a pH within the alkaline range, while at the same time having increased stability and come v patibility among the several components of the composition.

Moreover, it is another object of the invention to provide a novel spermicidal composition which is non-toxic, non-irritant and non-staining, and which does not melt or flow out at body temperatures and is water-washable.

Other objects of the invention and advantages thereof will become apparent from the following description:

Broadly stated, the present invention contemplates an improved spermicidal composition involving a novel combination of chemical substances which is effective within the alkaline range. Thenovel combination includes a spermicidal agent, a thickening agent, an alkalinizing agent or a buffer, and a plasticizing agent. The spermicidal agent which I have discovered is uniquely adapted to my novel spermicidal corriposition in'an alkalinemedium is a fatty acid mono-ester of a polyoxy'ethylene glycol and is defined by the generic chemical formula:

, crnoah'oiizocnmofnonb in which x is 2 or more, Ra is hydrogen and Rb is an acyl radical of a fatty acid having six or more carbon atoms. As a general rule, I use water to make up the balance of the composition and add an alkalinizing agent or a buffer to adjust the pH of the composition within the alkaline range, preferably from about 7.1 to about 10.0, which has been found to be particularly effective, although a pH up to 11.0 or higher may be used; I prefer also to incorporate a transparentizing agent in my novel composition to make the prod-. uct transparent and appealing to the user. The transparentizing agent operates, it is believed, by eliminating air inclusions from the product which would otherwise render it opaque. For the purpose of giving those skilled in the art a better understanding of the invention, the following illustrativeexamples are given:

Example No. I

Agent Chemical composition ag Spermicidal agent Dodecaethylene (dodecaoxy- 5.0

ethylene) glycol monolaurate. Plasticizing agent Glycerin 10.0 Thickening agent Tragacanth 2.5 Preservative agent Butyl p-hydroxy enzoa e .02 Sodium acetate bufier... Sodium acetate 2.93; sodium 3.0

hydroxide 0.07. Transparentizing agent. Ethyl alcohol 4.

e icle Water Balance The pH oi the above composition is in the alkaline range and is Theabove composition has a pHin the alkaline range of about 9.0.

Example No. III

Agent Chemical composition g Sperinicidal Agent Nonaoxyethylen'e glycol mono- 8.0

stearate. Plasticizing agent Glycerin 6. 0 Thickening agent Trggsacanth (2.5%); acacia 3. 0 Preservative-. Methyl p-hydroxybenzoate 15 Transparentizinga nt.- Alcohol 5. 0

ufier Sodi'umhcctate (2.0%);sodium' 2, 25

hydroxide (0.25%). Vehicle Water Balance Example No. IV

Agent Chemical composition g 23m Sprniicidal agent Dodecaoxyethylcne glycol 5.0

monolaurate. Plasticiziug agent... Glycerite of horoglycerin 9.0

v (2.0%); glycerm (7.0%). Thickening agent Tragacanth 2.5 Preservative Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate. 02 Tr'ansparentizing agent" Alcohol 4.0 Alkaliniiing agent Triethanolamine- 3.0 Vphinlp Water 7 Balance This composition has a pH in the alkaline range of about 8.0. Example No. V

Balance The above composition is alkaline and has a pH of about 10.5.

In these examples, the combination of plasticizing agent and thickener provides desirable adhesive action in the composition. The entire group of spermicidal agents have desirable spreading power in the composition and all operate satisfactorily in the alkaline range. While the spermicidal composition may have a desirable pH, I may use suitable buffer salts to adjust the pH to any desired quantity, preferably from 7.1 to 9.5, although 'a pH up to- 11.0 may be advantageously used. I may, for example, use bora-te-boric acid buffers, such as sodium borate and boric acid, or acetate-acetic acid bufiers, such as sodium acetate and acetic acid, or borax alone, which in a concentration of 2.0% give a pH of about 9, or triethanolamine which in a concentration of 2.0% gives a pH of about 8.0, or potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide, which when used in the amount of about 0.25% render the composition alkaline with a pH of about 10.5.

It will be understood also Example No. VI

Agent Chemical composition Percentage Spermicidal agent Plastici'zing agent. Thickening agent Preservative. Transparentizing agent" Alkalinizing agent. Vehiclc-..-.-.--.

Propylp-hydrozybenzoate Dodecaoxyethylene glycol monoester of an acid of the class including caproic, heptylic, caprylio, I nonyllc, capric, lauric, myristic; palmitic, margaric and stearic acids and the corresponding unsaturated acids.

Sorbitol Karaya gum (2.3%); methyl cellulose (1.0%).

Example No. VII

Agent Chemical composition Spe'rrnicidal agent.

Pla'sticizing' agent. Thickening agent Prescrvativo Transparentizing agent. Bufier Nonaoxyethylene. glycol monoester of the class consisting of caproic, heptylic, cap rylic, nonylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, margaric, and stearic acids and the unsaturated acids corresponding thereto. lyce'rin Metl51yl cellulose (2.5%);acacia Methyl p-hydroxyb'enzoate- Sodium acetate (2.93%); sodiurn hydroxide (0.07%)

Water Balance Theabove composition has a pH of about 7.2 in the abov ample No. VIII e ratios.

Agent Chemical composition Percentage Spermicidal agent Thickening agent Plasticizing agent. Bufien.

Vehicle Wat Monoester of polyoxyethylene glycol of the, formula CHZORH (CH OCH bCHu 0R5, in which :c is an integer of at least 2, R, is hydrogen and R is the acyl radical of a saturated or unsaturated acid having at least six carbon atoms.

Trag'a canth (2.5%); methyl cellulose (0.57

Polyethylene glycol (600) Borax (2.0%); borlc acid (0.5%).

Balance 7 The above composition has apH of about 9.0.

Example No. IX

Agent Chemical composition 222 Spermicidel agent Dodecaoxyethylene glycol 8.0

monoacylate of a saturated acid of the group consisting of caproic, heptylic, caprylic, nonylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, margaric, and stearic acids or mixtures thereof. Plasticizing agent Gl (Germ (3.0%); and serbitol 6.0

s 3. Thickening agent Tragacanth (2.5%) and meth- 3.0

' yl cellulose (0.5%).

Preservative Butyl p-hydroxybenzoate .02 Bufier Sodium borate (1.8%); boric 2.3

acid (0.5%).

Creamy consistency Cetyl alcohol 5.0 former. Vehicle Water B n The pH of the composition is then brought to any desired alkaline value up to about 11.0 by the addition of sodium hydroxide.

Example No. X

Agent Chemical composition ggg spermicidal agent Dodecaoxyethylene glycol 5.0

' monoacylate of an acid of the group consisting of undecdylenic, oleic, and erucic aci s. Plastlcizing agent. Propylene glycol (5.0%); sor- 10.0

. bitol (5.0%). Thickening agent Sodium carboxymethyl cellu- 3.3

lose (2 Irish moss (1.0%). 'lransparentizing agent. Ethyl alcohol 5.0 I Creaining agent (Jetyli 61063 17131 (1.0%); stearic 2.0

aci Preservative Butylp-hydroxybenzoateh .02 Buffer Sodium acetate (2.0%); acetic 3.0 .acid (1.0%). Vehicle Water Balance The pH of the composition is then broughtto any desired alkaline value up to about 11.0 by the addition of sodium hydroxide.

I may give the product a white appearance, or a creamy consistency by the use of such materials as cetyl alcohol, stearic acid or other cosmetic materials known to the arts for producing water miscible opaque cosmetic creams, as exemplified in part in the above examples. Gums, either natural or synthetic, may be substituted for gum tragacanth in the above examples, such as gums of the Arabin type or of the Bassorin type, for example, or synthetic gums produced by condensation or polymerization, or mixtures thereof with gums having the desired properties, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Water miscible fatty esters, propylene glycol, polyethylene glycols, polyethylene glucose, sorbitol and other humectants may be used in place of glycerol in substantially the same proportions.

In the foregoing examples, neither the spermicidal agent nor the other agents therein can function alone as a spermicidal composition. The spermicidal agent, as a solution in water, for example, would not provide mechanical barrier action, adhesiveness, or many of the other previously mentioned desiderata. The remaining agents would not provide spermatocidal activity. Only the entre novel combination will prove efiective, non-irritant and non-toxic. Other preservatives than butyl p-hydroxybenzoate may be used, and the alcohol may be eliminated without detriment to the product.

For the purpose of demonstrating the effectiveness of my novel spermicidal composition and the shortness of time within which the composition operates, tests were made on the following compounds to'determine the spermicidal time 6,. thereof. In these tests, the Brown and Gamble technique was used. For convenience, the spermicidal agent is listed alone in the following table, with the spermicidal time, but the remaining agents were similar to those given in Example No. I above;

The above table clearly shows that the spermicidal times can be varied by the use of different spermicidal ester concentrations and that with spermicidal concentrations up to 7% in the alkaline range to above 10.0 pH, the spermicidal times are wholly satisfactory, being all within one-half hour, and are non-irritating. In additional biological, clinical and physical tests, it was demonstrated that the spermicidal compositions when used in the alkaline range from about 7.1 to 11.0 possess all the necessary and desirable properties heretofore enumerated and that the spermicidal agents in the alkaline range are unusually stable, and are non-ionic, bland, nonoxidizing, non-coagulating and non-irritating to the mucous membranes.

Although various methods of preparing the spermicidal compositions may be used, the following is preferred:

The spermicidal agent is melted and heated to about 60 C. and is then poured into water at substantially the same temperature. The alcohol and preservative are then separately mixed with the thickener, and the plasticizer may then be added and mixed in the required amount. The entire mixture is then poured into water, while stirring and mixing, and mixing is continued until a homogeneous jelly is obtained.

It will be understood that although the invention has been described in connection with various preferred embodiments, variations and modifications may be resorted to as Will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the claims annexed hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: V

1. An improved spermicidal jelly composition eiiective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of a fatty acid monoester of a polyoxyethylene glycol defined by the generic formula CH2OR1(CH2OCH2)$CH2ORI7, in which as is an integer of at least 2, Re is hydrogen, and Re is the acyl radical of a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms, a water disproximately 8 to 10, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

2; An improved s'permicidal jelly composition efiective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of a fatty acid ester of a polyoxyethylene glycol, said glycol having the generic formula CH2OH(CH2OCH2)CH2OH, in which "a: is an integer oi at least 2, in combination with a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms, a water-dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition, a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, an alkalinizing buffer renderingthe composition alkaline to a pH ranging from approximately 8 to 10, and an alcohol to transparentize the composition, said composition being, adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

3. An improved spermiciolal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of a fatty acid ester of a polyoxyethylene glycol, said glycol having the generic formula CI'I2OH(CH2QCI'I2)9:CH2OH, in which x is an integer of at least 2, in combination with a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms, a water-dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition, a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, and a borate-boric acid buffer rendering the composition alkaline to a pH ranging from approximately 8 to 10, said composition being adapted for use in aqueous vehicle.

4. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contasting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consis ing of a fatty acid ester of a polyoxyethylene glycol, said glycol having the generic formula CH2OH. (CH2OCH2) ionzon, in which is an integer of at least 2, in combination with a fatty acid having at least six carbon atoms, a water-dispersible thickening agent h ving adhesive action in the composition, a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, a borate-boric acid buifer providing a pH ranging from approximately 8 to 10, and alcohol to transparentizc the composition by eliminating air inclusions, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

5. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time vithout irritating delicate body membranes contactingtherewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of a fatty acid ester of a polyoxyethylene glycol, said glycol having th generic formula CH2OH CH2OCH2 Cl-120E, in which at is an integer of at least two, in combination with a fatty acid selected from the group consisting of caproic, heptylic, caprylic, nonylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, margaric, stearic, undecylenic, oleic and erucic acids, a water-dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition, a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, an alkalinizing buffer providing a pH in the composition ranging from approximately 8 to 10, and alcohol to transparentize the composition, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

6. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of an organic acid ester of a polyoxyethylene glycol, said glycol having the generic formula CHzOI-HCHzOCI-IzMCHzOI-I, in

which ":c is an integerv of at least two, in combination with an organic acid having at least six carbon atoms, a water-dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition, a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, and a water-soluble bullet for bringing the pH of the resulting composition to a pH ranging from approximately 8 to 10, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

7. An improved spermicidal jelly composition efiective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of dodecaethylene glycol mono-' laurate, a water-dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition, a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, an alkalinizin'g buffer providing a pH in the composition within the alkaline range ranging from approximately 8 to 10, and a transparentizing agent to transparentize the composition, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

8. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of hexaoxyethylene glycol mono"- oleate, a water-dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition including gum tragacanth, a humectant plasticizing agent therefor, an alkalinizing buffer providing a pH in the composition within the alkaline range ranging from approximately 8 to 10, and a transparentizing agent in the composition, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

9. An improved spermicid'al jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of nonaoxyethylene glycol monostearate, a water-clispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition, a humectant plasticizing agent therefor consisting at least in part of glycerin and an alkalinizing buffer in the composition providig a pH ranging from approximately 8 to 10 therein.

10. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contasting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of dodecaoxyethylene glycol monolaurate, a water-dispersible thickening agent having adhesive action in the composition including gum tragacanth at least in part, a humectant plasticizing agent consisting at least in part of glycerin, and an alkalinizing buffer of triethanolamine in the composition to provide a pH within the alkaline range ranging from approxi-- mately 8 to 10, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

11. An improved spermicidal jelly composition effective within a relatively short period of time without irritating delicate body membranes contacting therewith which comprises a spermicidal agent consisting of an organic acid ester of polyoxyethylene glycol in combination with an organic acid of the group consisting of caproic, heptylic, caprylic, nonylic, capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, margaric and stearic acids and the corresponding unsaturated acids, a water-dispersible thickening agent including sodium carboxymethyl cellulose to provide adhesive action in the composition, a humectant plasticizing agent including glycerin and a buifer including sodium hydroxide providing a pH within the alkaline range ranging from approximately 8 to 10, said composition being adapted for use in an aqueous vehicle.

12. An improved spermicidal jelly composition in accordance with claim 6 in which the thickening agent is selected from the group consisting of gum tragacanth, Irish moss, acacia, Karaya gum, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose and in which the humectant plasticizing agent is selected from the group consisting of glycerin, sorbitol, glycerite or boroglycerin, polyethylene glycol, polyethylene glucose, and propylene glycol, and in which the bufier is selected from the group consisting of 10 sodium acetate, and mixtures thereof with acetic acid, borax and mixtures thereof with boric acid, thiethanolamine, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide.

ABRAHAM TAUB.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I E'ENTS Name Date Elias Apr. 19, 1949 Number 

3. AN IMPROVED SPERMICIDAL JELLY COMPOSITION EFFECTIVE WITHIN A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WITHOUT IRRITATING DELICATE BODY MEMBRANES CONTACTING THEREWITH WHICH COMPRISES A SPERMICIDAL AGENT CONSISTING OF A FATTY ACID ESTER OF A POLYOXYETHYLENE GLYCOL, SAID GLYCOL HAVING THE GENERIC FORMUAL CH2OH(CH2OCH2)XCH2OH, IN WHICH "X" IS AN INTEGER OF AT LEAST 2, IN COMBINATION WITH A FATTY ACID HAVING AT LEAST SIX CARBON ATOMS, A WATER-DISPERSIBLE THICKENING AGENT HAVING ADHESIVE ACTION IN THE COMPOSITION, A HUMECTANT PLASTICIZING AGENT THEREFOR, AND A BORATE-BORIC ACID BUFFER RENDERING THE COMPOSITION ALKALINE TO A PH RANGING FROM APPROXIMATELY 9 TO 10, SAID COMPOSITION BEING ADAPTED FOR USE IN AN AQUEOUS VEHICLE. 